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Lightning Child

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Sparrow Thibault is drawn inexorably to the waters of the deep, flowing Arizona Canal during a summer thunderstorm. There, she is struck by a bolt of lightning, and when she awakens, she hears a disembodied voice telling her something she cannot believe--something astonishing and wonderful.The revelation sends her on a dangerous journey to escape those who believe in the voice’s a darker, stranger force, desperate to stop her from the realization of her destiny. Accompanying her is a renegade priest, Father Patrick Kilian, who struggles against his own dark forces.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2018

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for David Watson.
434 reviews21 followers
May 22, 2018
Sparrow wasn't sure why she was compelled to go to an Arizona canal during a thunderstorm. She followed the urge anyway and was struck by lightning. Since then she's been hearing the voice of Joan of Arc and discovered  she's pregnant even though she's still a virgin. Sparrow is part of a prophecy, she is the mother of the new Messiah.

Not everyone is happy about this, a Cardinal in the Vatican hires someone to kill the young pregnant woman. A priest named Kilian has also had a vision and goes to find and help the girl. There are dark forces at work though and the world may not be ready for the second coming.

Lightning Child by Martha Pound Miller  was kind of a mixed bag for me, I love the characters and how they changed throughout the story and the story itself was excellent. For instance I loved that the mother of the new Messiah came from a rough background and things get worse for her as the story moves along. You see her go through the hardships that teenage girls face when they become pregnant. She wants to do what's right but she isn't sure what the right thing is and you see her become a much stronger person do to her hardships.

In the case of Kilian you see him in the beginning as someone who has lost his faith and is at a low point in life. When he has his vision life gets worse for him but he never stops trying to do the task that he was given. I thought it was interesting how he is trying to do the right thing for Sparrow and is still met with judgement from others. People in the story think that he got sparrow pregnant but despite people not believing in him he still does the right thing, which is why I admired the character.

The down side of this book was that there isn't much action or suspense, I liked the main character's stories but there was never a moment where I thought they wouldn't have a happy ending. There is a couple of action scenes that just didn't seem to work and another one that didn't make sense. The story has a couple of great villains but I never felt they had a chance to stop the protagonists. What I was wondering was if the bad guys would face some kind of redemption and that is where the story got interesting.

Lightning Child by Martha Pound Miller is a book that has its moments. This is a story about Faith change, perseverance and redemption. There is a good message here about how it doesn't matter what background you come from, you are important no matter what. Another message is that even in the darkest moments there will always be a light if you look for it. If you like great characters and a great message, you will like this book.
Profile Image for Jane White.
Author 2 books2 followers
May 9, 2018
Lightning Child is a truly thought provoking book, similar to The DaVinci Code, but to me with a much more plausible premise. What if God chose to send as the second coming of the Messiah another infant born of another virgin? And what if that child were a girl this time? In Miller's story, a young girl named Sparrow is struck by lightning and spoken to by Joan of Arc, telling her that she is pregnant, and will bear a child from God who will save the world. Sparrow's response is that she's never had a date yet, let alone done anything to get pregnant! And meanwhile, a young American priest in Rome, working in the archives at the Vatican, about to commit suicide, is stopped by a vision of Joan of Arc, telling him he must live, to protect the child yet unborn, in America, the new Messiah. And the Pope himself also receives a visit from St. Joan, yet a group of cardinals in the Vatican, worried that the Pope's sharing of this news to the public will destroy the Roman Catholic Church, tries to discount the message, and prevent the Pope from speaking out. Many dangers face Sparrow and her unborn child, including paid assassins. This is a riveting story, difficult to put down. I had to recharge my Kindle so as not to stop! I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Mike Lamprecht.
51 reviews
May 30, 2018
I received an advanced e-book copy of this book from the author Martha Pound Miller in exchange for a fair and unbiased review, of which I am known for in th Amazon e-book society.

Before receiving the advanced copy I did my homework and researched the Author. She has a good reputation for writing fiction stories. I then soon discovered it was true about her talent. The book I am reviewing "lightning Child", has a fast paced, suspenseful tale which rivals Dan Brown's DaVinchi Code. It takes place from New York to Vatican City, Rome Italy. Without giving away the story, I will say I am very pleased the way this Author wrote this entertaining book in a fast paced keeps the reader interested way. The story itself could have been written by Dan Brown himself. It's that good. I enjoyed the humor mixed in at the correct moments. Just when you think it's a no brainer, the writer puts in a twist and turn to make the reader flip back a page or two and revel in reading again the plot lines at that moment to partake in the amusement.

This is a good family book in that it's not a sex fest and does not need to be monitored or censored. I would let my teenaged child on upwards to adults enjoy this Mary Miracle book. Laughter, unbiased fun and suspense of the nail biting kind await the reader of this novel.

My advice is pass this book among the family to all enjoy a good, well rounded and entertaining story for the whole family. Thank you to Ms Miller for keeping reading in the top 10 family things to do.
Profile Image for Paige.
1,863 reviews90 followers
August 14, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Publication Date: May 29th, 2018

Genre: Thriller

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, slight mature content)

Pages:

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Synopsis: Sparrow Thibault is drawn inexorably to the waters of the deep, flowing Arizona Canal during a summer thunderstorm. There, she is struck by a bolt of lightning, and when she awakens, she hears a disembodied voice telling her something she cannot believe--something astonishing and wonderful.

The revelation sends her on a dangerous journey to escape those who believe in the voice’s prophecy: a darker, stranger force, desperate to stop her from the realization of her destiny. Accompanying her is a renegade priest, Father Patrick Kilian, who struggles against his own dark forces.

For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I felt the characters were really well done and I felt the plot was well developed. The writing was superb and I felt the whole story flowed really well. I loved how the book showed the development of each characters and how realistic it felt to me.

However, I missed the lack of action in this book. I felt that if there were more action scenes or more suspense in the book that it would have gripped me more. I just felt that there were moments were I felt the action scenes came out of nowhere and it left me confused and disjointed as a reader.

Verdict: A book with a great message and great characters. If you liked The Da Vinci Code, you’re like this!
Profile Image for Susan Clayton-Goldner.
Author 23 books186 followers
May 15, 2018
This book is both thought provoking and entertaining. You won't be able to put it down. Ms. Miller is a skilled writer who will take you on a ride you won't forget any time soon. Give this book a try. You won't be sorry.
1 review
July 29, 2018
Seat belt needed

This is a Grreat ride. Really, quickly reached a point where there was no putting it down. An original subject very well handled. Will be lookin for the next one.
Profile Image for Roxie Prince.
Author 9 books69 followers
June 17, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].

‘Lightning Child’ by Martha Pound Miller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Finished on June 10, 2018
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
During a summer thunderstorm, young Sparrow Thibault is inexplicably drawn to the waters of the Arizona Canal. There, she is struck by lightning and the voice of Joan of Arc who tells her of her unbelievable destiny.

This destiny puts her in danger of those who believe in prophesy, but she’s got a priest, Father Patrick Kilian, and God on her side.

MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Religious-centric books aren’t typically something I choose to read, but I’m glad I made an exception for ‘Lightning Child’. It tells a spiritual story without being too preachy or in-your-face about it.

Sparrow is an extremely likable and relatable character. She’s never given God much thought and doesn’t understand why she’s been chosen for something so incredible. Father Kilian provides a sort of father figure to Sparrow, and I felt like she really needed that.

I think Miller has done a great job of creating a book that both believers and non can both enjoy. Her writing is concise and well-paced. Her characters feel like real people, and the struggles they face were believable despite their astounding circumstances.

This is a story of miracles, family, friendship, and faith. If these sound appealing to you, you should give this book a read.
Profile Image for Donadee's Corner.
2,648 reviews64 followers
June 14, 2018
Lightning Child - Written by Martha Pound Miller
What would you do if voices told you to jump in the water during a thunderstorm????

Sparrow Thibault is drawn inexorably to the waters of the deep, flowing Arizona Canal during a summer thunderstorm. There, she is struck by a bolt of lightning, and when she awakens, she hears a disembodied voice telling her something she cannot believe--something astonishing and wonderful. The revelation sends her on a dangerous journey to escape those who believe in the voice’s prophecy: a darker, stranger force, desperate to stop her from the realization of her destiny. Accompanying her is a renegade priest, Father Patrick Kilian, who struggles against his own dark forces.

What did I like? This was a very thought-provoking story that could lead to many places. Sparrow is a lost little bird that goes on this incredible journey that no one could ever imagine. My heart was touched by this child and all that she went through. Father Patrick Kilian is amazing and astounding in the heartfelt care that he gave to Sparrow.

What will you like? The mystery of the world is in this book and it is astonishing to read. The story of Sparrow and Father Patrick is miraculous and surprising. The characters are very well developed and the storyline is amazing. The shocking revelations that arise in the story will astound you. Very interesting and captivating read. I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
Profile Image for Dan.
321 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2018
Are you ready for miracles? Do you believe in the second coming of the Messiah? Not a believer? No matter, The Lightning Child by Martha Pound Miller is an amazing story of the plight of a young woman who is both confused and unhappy in her life. The suspense of finding out what will happen to Sparrow after she's struck by lightning will keep you on edge. The involvement of a young Vatican priest named Killian will start to bring the story together. As an Christian, I had a hard time fathoming how such a complex story could touch my heart so deeply. As a reader, I had a difficult time with certain parts of the story when the author brought yet another subplot to light. I definitely would recommend this to those readers who first love suspense novels, and secondly those who like to explore a different ream of religious mystery.
Profile Image for Jane Blanchard.
Author 11 books53 followers
October 2, 2018
Sparrow Thibault, the Pope, and Father Patrick Kilian receive visitations from Joan of Arc. The saint reveals to Sparrow that following her having been hit by lightning that she is pregnant;  she tells the Pope that a child is to be born that will change the world; she gives Patrick hope and a mission to protect Sparrow and her child. But are these visitations divine or satanic? Is the world ready for the possibility of another Messiah?

This book missed a 5-star review for lack of editing. If you don't mind a few typos and like suspenseful occult thrillers, Lightning Child is one book not to miss. I could not put it down. The characters, the story arc, the pace worked well to keep me engaged.
Profile Image for Laura Ruetz.
1,380 reviews74 followers
March 9, 2020
This is a really good book. Sparrow is struck by lightening and hears a voice - she is also pregnant. However, nobody in her life believes her that she is a virgin. The ones that do believe want her silenced, all but one priest who also heard a voice. This begins a race to save Sparrow, and her baby from those that want to harm her. Throw in some political intrigue with the Vatican and you've got a very well written thriller that you won't want to put down.

I received a free copy of this book.
Profile Image for Berk Rourke.
378 reviews
May 27, 2018
As a reviewer and reader it is difficult for me to rate a book down when the story is good, the characters seem real in my mind, and the plot contains twists and turns which surprise. This book has all those elements and more. Ms, Miller has done a wonderful job with this first tale of Sparrow and her friend. I won't spoil the book for you with any more information. If you want to know what it is about, read it. The time spent and the cost of the purchase will be well worth the effort.
9 reviews
December 13, 2018
Wow! What a ride that was! I couldn't put it down and stayed up till 4AM on night reading it. I read it 2 weeks ago and much of the imagery is still etched in my mind. Such a wonderful piece of work. Thank you for writing it!
Profile Image for Petite.
Author 3 books17 followers
July 30, 2019
Ride of a lifetime. This story was an enjoyable read. At times I was on the edge of my seat and holding my breath. Wasn't sure what would or could happen next. Full of suspense. It was truly a loving story.
Profile Image for Bruce Lewis.
Author 8 books
January 2, 2021
This is a fast-moving thriller that captures your attention on the first page and keeps you reading.
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